Recently the Australian government have clamped down heavily on the biker gangs, implementing new and to certain extents ridiculous and unrealistic laws, even going so far as to stop bikers from riding in groups and treating them worse than murderers and rapists! And to top it off, dedicated prisons for bikers!
"Those found guilty also face incarceration in a bikers-only prison with no gym facilities or TV access and having their motorcycles destroyed. Guilty riders will also be banned from owning or working in tattoo parlours"
"We know these are criminal gangs, people who manufacture drugs, distribute them, create misery in our community, bash people up, threaten people, murder people on occasions and also rape. They are just absolute criminals and we knew they would not go quietly."
"Those found guilty also face incarceration in a bikers-only prison with no gym facilities or TV access and having their motorcycles destroyed. Guilty riders will also be banned from owning or working in tattoo parlours"
Queensland's premier, Campbell Newman, said: "The unequivocal purpose of these laws is to destroy these criminal organisations. This is not some flash-in-the-pan or momentary phase. We are going to hunt you down."
Newman suggested to bikers: "Take off your colours, get a real job, act like decent, law-abiding human beings and become proper citizens in the state of Queensland and you will not have to go to jail."
The legislation names 26 "criminal organisations", among them well-known gangs such as the Bandidos, Hell's Angels, Rebels, Finks and lesser-knowns such as Muslim Brotherhood, Iron Horsemen, Mongols, Fourth Reich, and Life and Death.
Newman said: "These are not lovable rascals and ruffians. That's their spin. That's the way they've been trying to present themselves for many, many years. Neither are they just free spirits who love to ride motorcycles. They are criminals."
Newman suggested to bikers: "Take off your colours, get a real job, act like decent, law-abiding human beings and become proper citizens in the state of Queensland and you will not have to go to jail."
The legislation names 26 "criminal organisations", among them well-known gangs such as the Bandidos, Hell's Angels, Rebels, Finks and lesser-knowns such as Muslim Brotherhood, Iron Horsemen, Mongols, Fourth Reich, and Life and Death.
Newman said: "These are not lovable rascals and ruffians. That's their spin. That's the way they've been trying to present themselves for many, many years. Neither are they just free spirits who love to ride motorcycles. They are criminals."
While the laws only affect activity in Queensland, a crackdown on bikers is occurring across Australia with more than 700 police swooping on the Hell's Angels earlier in October 2013 in Melbourne during a series of heavily-armed raids.
Earlier in 2013, police launched a series of similar dawn raids across Sydney targeting motorcycle gangs and allegedly seizing firearms, explosives and drugs.
Experts say increased biker violence stems from turf wars over drug distribution, particularly of methamphetamine or "ice". The gangs are also allegedly involved in the distribution of firearms and explosives, with links to Balkan and Asian organised crime groups.
Earlier in 2013, police launched a series of similar dawn raids across Sydney targeting motorcycle gangs and allegedly seizing firearms, explosives and drugs.
Experts say increased biker violence stems from turf wars over drug distribution, particularly of methamphetamine or "ice". The gangs are also allegedly involved in the distribution of firearms and explosives, with links to Balkan and Asian organised crime groups.
SHAMEFUL PINK?
State premier Campbell Newman said hot pink prison uniforms, aleady used in parts of the US, were a great idea for incarcerated members of biker gangs.
"They are bullies. They like to wear scary gear, leather jackets, they have the tattoos, they have their colours," he told reporters Monday. "We know that telling them to wear pink is going to be embarrassing for them."
Queensland a week earlier passed tough new laws to combat outlaw motorcycle gangs as authorities sought to destroy what they described as "criminal organisations" that have become a growing menace across the country with links to drugs and guns.
Under the legislation, which names gangs such as the Bandidos, Hell's Angels, Rebels and Finks as criminal organisations, members face an additional 15 years on any prison term while authorities will have the power to destroy motorcycles.
Newman confirmed Sunday that state attorney-general Jarrod Bleijie had been threatened by biker gangs since the laws were passed but did not elaborate. "There have been threats. That's as far as I'm going," he said. "The government went in with its eyes open.
"They are bullies. They like to wear scary gear, leather jackets, they have the tattoos, they have their colours," he told reporters Monday. "We know that telling them to wear pink is going to be embarrassing for them."
Queensland a week earlier passed tough new laws to combat outlaw motorcycle gangs as authorities sought to destroy what they described as "criminal organisations" that have become a growing menace across the country with links to drugs and guns.
Under the legislation, which names gangs such as the Bandidos, Hell's Angels, Rebels and Finks as criminal organisations, members face an additional 15 years on any prison term while authorities will have the power to destroy motorcycles.
Newman confirmed Sunday that state attorney-general Jarrod Bleijie had been threatened by biker gangs since the laws were passed but did not elaborate. "There have been threats. That's as far as I'm going," he said. "The government went in with its eyes open.
"We know these are criminal gangs, people who manufacture drugs, distribute them, create misery in our community, bash people up, threaten people, murder people on occasions and also rape. They are just absolute criminals and we knew they would not go quietly."
Share your views:
Are you a biker? Do you agree with the implementation of the new laws?
Do you think these laws will spread to other parts of the world?
Campbell Newman has some nerve calling the bikers "bullies". Seems with the rhetoric and utterly unconstitutional actions of this pissant politician and lackey police, that the REAL bullies are the ones who think of themselves as above the law and use their political power to abuse others.Tyrants and fascists.
ReplyDeleteAnd one these "laws" are on the books how long will it be before other groups that the politician don't like get targeted? There has never been a law or authority offered to police that they have not utterly abused.